FEMA extends hotel stays for Harvey survivors into March 2018

This article was originally published in The Examiner on Jan. 18, 2018.

By Eleanor Skelton
Staff Writer

Eligible Hurricane Harvey survivors who are receiving transitional shelter assistance may receive an extension to continue to stay hotels while they look for a place to live.

The new extension is through March 12, FEMA announced in a news release Friday, Jan. 12.

FEMA officials said disaster survivors still needing the hotel sheltering program will receive a phone call, email, or text message advising them if they are still eligible for assistance through a participating hotel. There will be a mid-term eligibility review on Feb. 20.

In the transitional shelter assistance program, FEMA makes payments to participating hotels for the room and any applicable taxes, including non-refundable pet fees up to FEMA’s maximum allowable room night charge. Applicants are responsible for other costs like meals and transportation.

A household of four or fewer members will be authorized one hotel room, and
a household of five or more will be authorized additional rooms, up to four people per room, as long as one person from each household age 18 years or older is in each hotel room, FEMA officials said.

FEMA said those who have disabilities or need access and functional needs who are living in a hotel post-Harvey should check with hotels to make sure accommodations are available. Anyone with pets must check to make sure the hotel accepts pets.

Eligible applicants for FEMA’s transitional shelter assistance program must find and book their own hotel rooms.

The list of participating hotels is available at DisasterAssistance.gov under the Transitional Shelter Assistance Program link or by calling FEMA at 1 (800)
321-3362.

For 711 or Video Relay Service, call 1 (800) 621-3362. For TTY, call 1 (800) 462-7585.

For more information on Hurricane Harvey and Texas recovery, visit the Hurricane Harvey disaster web page at www.fema.gov/disaster/4332, or Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/FEMAharvey, the FEMA Region 6 Twitter account at twitter.com/FEMARegion6, or the Texas Division of Emergency
Management website at http://www.dps.texas.gov/dem.